Khabarovsk is the largest city and the administrative center of Khabarovsk Krai, Russia. It is located 30 kilometers (19 mi) from the Chinese border. It is the second largest city in the Russian Far East, after Vladivostok. The city became the administrative center of the Far Eastern Federal District of Russia in 2002. Population: 577,668.

The city lies at the confluence of the Amur and Ussuri Rivers, about 800 kilometers (500 miles) north of Vladivostok and is accessible from there by an overnight train running along the Trans-Siberian Railway. Rail distance from Moscow is 8,523 kilometers (5,296 miles).

Climate

Khabarovsk experiences a monsoonal dry-winter humid continental climate. Hot summers and cold winters are common for the region.

Transportation

Khabarovsk is served by the Khabarovsk Novy Airport with international flights to East Asia, Southeast Asia, European Russia, and Central Asia. It is also served by the Trans-Siberian Railway, the Trans-Siberian Highway (M58 and M60 Highways) and the Amur River and Ussuri River waterways.

Education

These are the main institutions of higher education in Khabarovsk:

Far Eastern State Transport University

Pacific National University (former Khabarovsk State University of Technology)

Far Eastern State University of Humanities (former Khabarovsk State Teachers Training University)

Far Eastern State Medical University

Khabarovsk State Academy of Economics and Law

Far Eastern Academy of Government Services

Far Eastern State Physical Education University

Khabarovsk State Institute of Arts and Culture

Khabarovsk Theological Seminary

Tourism

Visitors to the picturesque city of Khabarovsk are likely to enjoy walking the broad Amursky Boulevard with its many shops and perhaps visit the local market. The city's five districts stretch for 45 kilometers (28 mi) along the Amur River.

Recently, there have been many renovations in the city's central part, rebuilding with historical perspective. A popular attraction for visitors is a walking tour from the Lenin Square to Utyos on Amur via Muravyov-Amursky Street, where visitors can find traditional Russian cuisine restaurants and shops with souvenirs. There are many night clubs and pubs in this area. In wintertime ice sculptures are on display on the cities squares and parks. Artists come from as far as Harbin in China.

Unlike Vladivostok, the city has never been closed to foreigners, and retains its historically international flavour. Once the capital of the Soviet Far East (from 1926 to 1938), since the demise of the Soviet Union it has experienced an increased Asian presence. It is estimated that over one million Chinese travel to and through Khabarovsk yearly, and foreign investment by Japanese and Korean corporations has grown in recent years. The city has multi-story shopping malls and about a dozen hotels.

Twin towns and sister cities

Bucheon (Gyeonggi-do, South Korea)

Niigata (Niigata Prefecture, Japan)

Harbin (Heilongjiang, China)

Portland (Oregon, United States)

Victoria (British Columbia, Canada)

TRIVIA:

Khabarovsk toped the list of "The Most Developed and Comfortable Cities of Russia" in 2006, 2008and 2009.

In 2010, Khabarovsk won the second place in the Forbes list of most suitable cities for private business in Russia.

Khabarovsk bridge over Amur river and Monument to count Nikolay Muravyov-Amursky are depicted on the Russian Federation 5000 rubles banknote (bill).